Fisheries and Land Resources

Public Reminders for the Forest Fire Season

During the forest fire season a Permit to Burn is required when lighting outdoor fires within 300 metres of forest land for the purposes of burning brush, or for any outdoor fire not identified under other open or outdoor fires described below.

When the Fire Hazard rating is
HIGH for a region, all Permits to Burn for that region
are suspended.

When the Fire Hazard rating is
VERY HIGH, or
EXTREME for a region, all Permits to Burn for that region are suspended and
open or outdoor fires are not permitted.

It is the responsibility of the public to know what the Fire Hazard rating is before lighting fires. Residents can check the
Fire Hazard Map to determine what the Fire Hazard rating
is for their region.

Open or Outdoor Fires - During the forest fire season a person may light a fire on forest land or within 300 metres of forest land without a
Permit to Burn under the following conditions.

The fire is in a prepared location in a provincial, national, municipal or private park that has facilities to contain open pit fires.

The fire is on a sand or gravel beach or quarry, and is located at a distance of not less than 15 metres away from the nearest woods, brush or other flammable material. Fires should not exceed an area of 0.4
square metres (i.e. approximately 2 feet x 2 feet or the diameter of a tire) and should be located near an adequate source of water.

The fire is in an outdoor wood burning unit and when:

the unit completely contains the fire;

the unit is made entirely of non-combustible material and is screened to prevent the escape of sparks and other burning material;

the unit rests on legs or supports and is placed on a non-combustible area of no less than 1.5 square metres; and

the unit is located a minimum of 3.5 metres from the nearest woods, brush or other flammable material.

The fire is in an incinerator if:

the unit completely contains the fire is screened to prevent the escape of sparks or other burning material;

the unit is located on private property and is at least 15 metres from any woods, brush or other flammable material;

the unit is in good working order and there is an attendant on site when the fire weather index is high, very high, or extreme; and

all incinerator ash is totally extinguished before being discarded on mineral soil at least 15 metres from any woods, brush or other flammable material.

A person may not leave a fire unattended, whether it is contained in a prepared camp site, charcoal, gas, kerosene, alcohol, propane operated unit or outdoor wood burning unit.

A person may not leave the location of a fire until the fire has been completely extinguished.

The use of gas, kerosene, alcohol, propane or charcoal burning units are permitted regardless of the Fire Weather
Hazard rating, as long as they are not used within 3.5 metres of any woods, brush or other flammable material.

All coals used during barbequing, or as part of any other burning unit, must be totally extinguished before being discarded. When discarding coals it is important to remember to do so in a manner which will not result in the starting of a fire.

In accordance with provincial
Forest Fire Regulations persons travelling through forest land during the forest fire season on an all-terrain or motorized vehicle are required to have the vehicle fitted with a muffler and a screening or baffling device which prevents the escape of sparks or particles of burnt carbon. In addition, they are required to be equipped with a fire extinguisher containing a minimum of 227 grams of ABC class fire retardant.